Ryan Doherty

Birthdate: Feb. 2, 1984

Hometown: Toms River, New Jersey

Resides: Ventura, Calif.

Height: 7’ 1"

College: Notre Dame

Website: ryan-doherty.com

Twitter: twitter.com/RyanDVolley

 

BEST FINISH / WINNINGS

Domestic: 1st (3 times)

Winnings: $31,125

 

 

BIOGRAPHY

Ryan Doherty made his AVP debut in 2010, playing with three different partners in four event appearances. Doherty’s best finish came at Belmar, where he placed 41st while partnering with Gary Schreiber. 

At 7’1, Doherty is the tallest player on the AVP tour and had a breakout year in 2012. He and partner, Casey Patterson, took fifth at Cincinnati, earning themselves a spot in the Championships at Santa Barbara. After picking up victories in pool play over Ryan Mariano/Ed Ratledge and Paul Baxter/Pedro Brazao, Doherty and Patterson fell in their final pool play match to Matt Fuerbringer/ Nick Lucena giving them a final ranking of sixth place.

Nicknamed “Avatar” for his astounding height, Doherty was an All-American baseball player for Notre Dame in 2002 before being signed by the Arizona Diamondbacks as a relief pitcher. He pitched for three seasons in the Diamondbacks’ farm system, becoming the first 7-footer in the history of minor-league baseball.

After his professional career petered out, Doherty moved to South Carolina where he and his roommate started playing sand volleyball. He became hooked on the sport and moved to Huntington Beach, Calif. where he would hang out on the beach 5-6 days a week taking on anybody he could find. The pros found a use for him, using him in blocking drills and eventually Casey Patterson contacted Doherty forming a new partnership for 2012.

Doherty will partner with long-time AVP star and Olympic Gold Medalist Todd Rogers for the 2013 season.